Fishing at Nelson Lake, Beltrami County, Minnesota

• Overview

  In Minnesota, Nelson Lake falls inside Beltrami County. It lies 1,309 feet above sea level. Roughly 27 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. With about 1.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Our Beltrami County list holds plenty of bigger water. Bemidji at 17 miles is the nearest place to stop. For a city, Fargo is 115 miles off. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Nelson Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name walleye, yellow perch and northern pike. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Anyone new to Nelson Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 67°F and January at 3°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and mid November closes it again. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. It sets the rhythm of the year at Nelson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Fagen Lake is 1.4 miles off. Check the current arrangement for Nelson Lake.